Talk:Rammas Echor

The Rammas Echor was an outer defense-work of the city of Minas Tirith, constructed on the order of Steward Ecthelion II after the final loss of Ithilien in the year 2954 of the Third Age. It was a great wall, over 10 leagues in length, encircling the fields of Pelennor, the hither defenseless townlands of the city. Nonetheless, the defensive value of the Rammas was open to doubt: for at its furthest point, it was some four leagues from the city and thus could not be manned in strength, since the main defense of Minas Tirith lay in its city-walls and Great Gate. Moreover, defenders on the out-wall might find themselves cut off from retreat were a breach to be made and the gap stormed in strength. At best, Rammas could only serve to delay unsupported Cavalry forces or foot soldiers without breaking tools. The Rammas was repaired at the time of the WR but was easily breached by by the army of the Lord of the Nazgûl in March 13th, 3019.

I assume her "constructed on the order of Steward Ecthelion II after the final loss of Ithilien in the year 2954 of the Third Age" to be an erroneous interpretation of "So the men of Gondor called the out wall that they had built with great labour, after Ithilien fell under the shadow of their Enemy." from the chapter Minas Tirith of LotR, which clearly refers to some time earlier, any time after the Witch-King captured Minas Ithil in Third Age 2002. Does anyone know to the contrary? -- Mithrennaith 16:40, 20 May 2008 (EDT)

Don't have the books with me, but the Thain's Book cites the Reader's Companion (the unfinished index), which states DII built it. -- Ederchil 03:29, 21 May 2008 (EDT)

Yep, it says so indeed, on pp. 512 and 546. So that means that "ancient" in the first paragraph is certainly amiss. -- Mithrennaith 10:28, 21 May 2008 (EDT)